Gallery: The Russian Summer Camps Where Students Box and Assemble AK-47s

  • Image may contain Human Person Animal Mammal Cattle Cow Weapon Gun and Weaponry
    Sarah Blesener
    01

    Blesener-00.jpg

    Target practice with Airsoft guns at a camp in Borodino.
  • Image may contain Military Military Uniform Human Person Armored Army and Soldier
    Sarah Blesener
    02

    Blesener-15.jpg

    Kids at a public school in Dmitrov compete to see how quickly they can don gas masks.
  • Boxing
    Sarah Blesener
    03

    Blesener-Russia-18.jpg

    Teens box in the after school in the Diveevo Public School gymnasium.
  • Image may contain Human Person Footwear Clothing Apparel Shoe Sunglasses Accessories Accessory Weapon and Weaponry
    Sarah Blesener
    04

    Blesener-Russia-09.jpg

    Teens after a drill where they practice quickly assembling and loading rifles in Borodino. The weapons are real, but can’t fire.
  • Image may contain Human Person Ground Soil Clothing Shorts and Apparel
    Sarah Blesener
    05

    Blesener-10.jpg

    Teens take an afternoon off at the lake.
  • Image may contain Human Person Grass Plant Military Uniform Military Footwear Clothing Shoe and Apparel
    Sarah Blesener
    06

    Blesener-Russia-25.jpg

    The Historical-War Camp in Borodino offers reenactments from different wars. Here a group of students are dressed in Soviet uniforms from WWII.
  • Image may contain Human Person Camping Tent Clothing and Apparel
    Sarah Blesener
    07

    Blesener-04.jpg

    Campers play tug-of-war in Borodino.
  • Image may contain Human Person Furniture Clothing and Apparel
    Sarah Blesener
    08

    Blesener-09.jpg

    Campers in their tent at Orthodox Warrior camp in Diveevo.
  • This image may contain Human Person Clothing Apparel Pants Shorts Skin Footwear and Shoe
    Sarah Blesener
    09

    Blesener-07.jpg

    Students practice with Airsoft guns in Borodino.
  • Image may contain Wood Plywood Flooring Human Person Interior Design Indoors Hardwood Floor and Art
    Sarah Blesener
    10

    Blesener-13.jpg

    Heroes of Russian history (including President Vladimir Putin) adorn a school wall in Diveevo.
  • Image may contain Wheel Machine Human Person Footwear Clothing Shoe Apparel Helmet Vehicle and Transportation
    Sarah Blesener
    11

    Blesener-11.jpg

    A 17-year-old student takes a breather after a drill. He’s preparing for a fake war at the Orthodox Warrior camp in Diveevo.
  • Image may contain Human Person Nature Outdoors Weather and Fog
    Sarah Blesener
    12

    Blesener-01.jpg

    A fake grenade is launched as campers practice with Airsoft guns.
  • Image may contain Animal Horse Mammal Human Person and Equestrian
    Sarah Blesener
    13

    Blesener-06.jpg

    Campers ride horses at war camp in Borodino.
  • Image may contain Human Person Military Military Uniform Army Armored and Soldier
    Sarah Blesener
    14

    Blesener-05.jpg

    A teenager studies a map during a 12-hour drill in the forests around Diveevo.
  • Image may contain Human Person Crowd Audience Interior Design Indoors Night Life Bar Counter Pub and Restaurant
    Sarah Blesener
    15

    Blesener-14.jpg

    Kids watch war movies at summer camp in Borodino.
  • Image may contain Indoors Room Human Person Brick and Wall
    Sarah Blesener
    16

    Blesener-03.jpg

    A student participating in tactical training in Diveevo.
Read More
Wrongful Arrest Exposes Failures in One of the Oldest Police Face-Recognition Tools in the US
The ACLU is suing two Florida police departments over the arrest of a Fort Myers man in a child-abduction case, saying officers treated a flawed face-recognition match as a near-certain ID.
Dell Cameron
China Opens World’s First Wind-Powered Underwater Data Center
With an initial capacity of 24 megawatts, the innovative data center uses seawater as a natural cooling system.
Fernanda González
These Are the Best $400 Digital Notebooks
The newest Kindle Scribe means there are now three digital notebooks you can buy in the $400 price range. Here’s which one you should get.
Nena Farrell
The Best Kindles to Take Your Library Anywhere
I’ve tried every single Kindle. Here’s how Amazon’s ebook readers stack up.
Nena Farrell
Get the Most Out of Your iPad With These Accessories
Kit out your Apple tablet with our favorite stands, cases, keyboards, and styli.
Julian Chokkattu
Finally, Some Affordable Laptops That Won’t Fail You in College
Laptops for college should be portable, offer long battery life, and remain reasonably affordable. Based on testing hundreds of laptops, these are my top picks.
Luke Larsen
The Other Major Soccer Event of 2026? The Shake-Up in the World of Video Games
The 48-team World Cup is not the only historic soccer event this year. Four titans are vying for control of video game soccer in the fiercest battle the industry has ever seen.
Javier Rodríguez
Soccer Fans, You’re Being Watched
From anti-drone tech to face recognition, 2026 World Cup stadiums in the US, Canada, and Mexico are subjecting fans to an array of surveillance tech. Here’s what you need to know.
Vas Panagiotopoulos
The World Cup’s Trionda Ball Challenges Traditional Aerodynamics
According to new research, Trionda would show less unpredictable movements in actions such as corner kicks or free kicks. However, in powerful and long-distance clearances it would lose range.
Fernanda González
Artificial Intelligence Sneaks Into the World Cup Thanks to Google Gemini
The Argentine national team will be Google’s test bench and technological showcase during the World Cup.
Rosa Jiménez Cano
Mapping Every Flock License Plate Reader Near US World Cup Stadiums
Most US World Cup stadiums are surrounded by surveillance cameras. Want to know if you’re being watched on your way to a match? These maps will help you.
Maddy Varner
How to Watch the 2026 World Cup
The games start June 11 and end with a grand finale in New Jersey on July 19. There are 104 of them. Here’s how to watch ’em all.
Boone Ashworth